Where will classrooms be built first? Weston or Colony Oak school campus

Trustees of the Ripon Unified School District will soon determine how to handle the two elementary school sites on the voter-approved Measure G list. And that included which school will be the first to have new classrooms built.

A super majority or 55 percent voter approval was required for passage.

On Monday, the board made it official, certifying the final election results of the Nov. 6 elections as posted by the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters.

The bond measure was passed with a little wriggle room. In this case, 57.71 percent of the voters came out in favor of the plan that, for starters, would help pave the way for permanent classrooms at Colony Oak and Weston, in turn, replacing the aging portable facilities.

The portables at the school sites had shown plenty of wear from over the years. The plywood floors are warped, the electrical outlets are inadequate for today’s technology, and mold continues to be an issue.

The $25.2 million in bonds would also make possible libraries and science labs, modernizing support facilities, and allowing for the district to pay off the Clinton South parcel that’s home to the Ripon High school farm.

Trustees also heard the steps necessary towards issuance of the bonds from a representative from Caldwell, Flores and Winters.

Superintendent Louise Johnson believed the district should turn to its architects to handle the design of the new-look Colony Oak and Weston campuses.

“We should do so sooner rather than later (on the design),” she said. “They’re highly skilled professionals.”

Fisher agreed. “We need to provide (a conception of the plan) with some detail,” he said.

Whether it’s Colony Oak or Weston, district officials must also decide on how to handle students during the remodeling.

“Do we shuttle them to another campus?” Trustee Ernie Tyhurst asked.

Johnson shared some of her concerns on what to salvage and what to save at the two school sites.

“We have some solar panel units at Weston. I don’t know if we will salvage it or save it to surplus,” Johnson said.

She added: “We need to make a list and check it twice. And then we need to put a plan in place and make it happen.”

In addition, RUSD are in search of candidates to serve on its seven-members or more bond oversight committee for Measure G.

Needed would be a cross-section of representatives, including senior citizens, business folks, parents and a bonafide taxpayer’s organization.